This Center aims to carry out research on aspects of biodiversity, coral reef ecology, the functional physiology of animals in coral reefs, applied plant science, the functional physiology of bioresources, and forest resource science. The Center consists of the Nishihara Station, Sesoko Station, and Iriomote Station. The Center has 12 professional members, two foreign visiting research fellows and five domestic visiting research fellows. Visiting scientists and students are also welcome.

In the fiscal year of 2008, the Center staff conducted researches on structure and function of coral reef ecosystems and rules underlying them; reproductive cycles, sexual compositions, and factors and mechanisms governing these properties in reef fishes; current status and formation process of biodiversity, and effective methods to detect, utilize and reproduce bioresources under the subtropical insular environment. Also, the Center began new projects to explore effective methods for recovery of coral reefs and mangroves that were damaged from local human activities, as well as from global climatic changes. In 2009, this Center has been combined with Center of Molecular Biosciences (COMB), and the research area has been extended to include functional genomics, molecular biotechnology, bioremediation, immunobiology and molecular microbiology with increase in the number of staff members.

Nishihara Station

Nishihara Station

The Nishihara Station was established in the Nishihara Campus, University of the Ryukyus, when the Tropical Biosphere Research Center was founded in 1994. It accommodates the Section of Biodiversity and is devoted to the study of the diversification and natural history of insular fauna. The Station is also expected to play an integrating role for the center. In 2000, the Nishihara Station moved to the Collaboration Building from the former facility in the Faculty of Science. This considerably increased the space, and equipment available for visiting researchers and students.

Sesoko Station

Sesoko Station

The Sesoko Station owns modern large-scale fish tanks, and it is well equipped with instruments for marine science, Many foreign and domestic researchers and students visit this Station to conduct ecological and physiological studies of marine organisms. Training courses for students by the University of the Ryukyus and various other organizations are also frequently operated in this Station.

Iriomote Station

Iriomote Station

The Iriomote Station, located on Iriomote Island, is surrounded by a broad-leaf evergreen forest and mangrove forest. This Station includes three research sections: Applied Plant Sciences, Forest Resource Science and Section of Functional Physiology of Bioresources. This station has been playing a central role as a research base or station for the study of mangrove ecosystems. The facilities of this Station, including the dormitory, are available to foreign and domestic researchers and students. The Iriomote Station conducts intensive courses for undergraduate and graduate students. The Station is also involved in various training courses organized by Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Association for International Cooperation of Agriculture and Forestry, etc.

Center of Molecular Biosciences (COMB)

Center of Molecular Biosciences (COMB)

The Center of Molecular Biosciences (COMB) is dedicated to higher education and the promotion of the research fields of biosciences at cellular and molecular levels. All instruments and facilities are, in principle, available for use by students and faculty members from every school and department on campus and also outside research community. To achieve educational and research excellence, our faculty members and students have been enthusiastically collaborating. In 2007, faculty members were involved in the total of 33 research project including "Mucosal vaccine development research against newly and re-emerging infectious disease "funded by The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In 2009, a new research project "analysis for genomic invasion mechanism of movable elements and development of general standard vector using transporter" has been launched.